Real Madrid 3 - Zaragoza 1

Real Madrid: César; Michel Salgado, Hierro (Guti 80'), Pavón, Roberto Carlos; Iván Helguera, Makelele (McManaman 70'); Zidane, Raúl, Solari (Savio 85'); Morientes. 4-2-3-1.
Zaragoza: Láinez; Cuartero, Komljenovic, Paco (César 36'), Pablo; Chainho (Corona 60'), José Ignacio; Galletti, Bilic, Garitano (Vellisca 60'); Milosevic. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Madrid: Morientes for Guti / Zaragoza: Paco, Chainho, Galletti for Vellisca, Aragón, Toro Acuña.

Goals:
1-0. 14. Hierro. Forced ball just over line with thigh from Zidane corner.
2-0. 57. Hierro (penalty). After Chainho blocked Zidane shot with his hand.
2-1. 78. Milosevic. Picked up Vellisca pass on right of area and shot across César.
3-1. 80. Hierro. Took pass from Mcmanaman and ran on to shoot into roof of net.

Leaders Real Madrid stay top of the table after beating a poor Zaragoza 3-1, a game which they controlled from start to finish. The star of the match was their veteran captain Fernando Hierro, who scored the second hat-trick of his career and was given a standing ovation by fans when substituted near the end. Hierro was one of several players left out of the midweek Champions League game at Panathinaikos, and Del Bosque's players came in to the game rested for once after a few days lay-off. In fact they appeared too rested, and the game got off to a lazy start with neither side taking the initiative. Hierro brought everyone out of their stupor though when he opened the scoring with a quarter hour gone, forcing the ball over the line with his upper thigh from Zidane's corner. For a moment there was a doubt as to whether the ball had gone completely over the line as Garitano whipped it clear, but referee Iturralde awarded the goal after consulting with his linesman. It was the defender's 100th league goal with Real Madrid in his 13 years with the club.

Another period of lethargy ensued leading up to half time, with Zaragoza doing nothing to try and get back into the match. Soon after the restart though Raúl got the ball into the net but it was disallowed for offside, and Morientes hit the post with a shot a few minutes later. The pressure paid off when Chainho stopped a Zidane effort with his arm, and Hierro stepped up to score his second of the night from the spot. Zaragoza pulled one back though when Milosevic beat the offside trap to shoot past César, and thoughts went back to the 1-5 from two years ago when the Yugoslavian striker was on his best form. However Hierro was there again two minutes later when Raúl stepped over McManaman's pass to fire a shot into the top corner of the net to lay the ghost. Madrid were back on top, heading the table thanks to a better goal average than Valencia. Zaragoza drop to next to bottom having gone five games without a win, and must now be one of the favourites for relegation. It was too much for caretaker manager Luis Costa, and the day after he handed in his resignation. Ex Atlético Madrid manager Marcos Alonso will take over, but with only seven games to go he has to produce a small miracle.